In 2003, a local baseball standout began the journey of his professional baseball career.

"It is kind of crazy standing here at AT&T Park, thinking back obviously remembering where it all started," said Visalia native Aaron Hill who now plays for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Hill was a multi-sport star at Redwood High before playing baseball at LSU and ultimately becoming the 13th overall selection of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2003.

"I think that a lot of it has to do with the multiple sports, you know Redwood football obviously the tough skin that football brings, the Friday Night Lights, there is still nothing better than playing at the Cowhide and then I obviously love baseball it's been my favorite sports since I was little but I just love sports."

Since his debut in 2005, Hill has been a major league mainstay, earning an All-Star selection in 2009 and has played for Toronto, Arizona and now Milwaukee.

"He understands that part of his job is leadership and so you appreciate that a player understands that leadership is part of being a teammate," said Brewers manager Craig Counsell.

Hill isn't the only player with ties to the central valley, Milwaukee also has starting pitcher Matt Garza who attended Washington Union and played at Fresno State.

"You know obviously talking about the high schools, central valley because most the other guys don't know there is a central valley, they just think north and south, we let them know the central valley is where it's at," said Hill.

Hill has a message for future generations of valley baseball players...

"I think everyone has to know what motivates them, I mean for me I never settled, no matter what. There's always room for improvement, not just baseball, everything. You always try to learn from your mistakes, try to be like a sponge and absorb all the information and just run with it."